Thu May 1 14:53:11 2008

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Erlandsson leads by one in Spain

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Seville, Spain (Sports Network) - Martin Erlandsson opened with a seven-under- par 65 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Open de Espana.

Erlandsson's 65 set a new course record at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.

Spaniards Ignacio Garrido and Jordi Garcia share second place at minus-six. Gary Clark is alone in fourth at five-under-par 67.

Erlandsson played the back nine first on Thursday and opened with four straight pars. He collected his first birdie on the par-four 14th and came back to birdie the 16th.

Around the turn, Erlandsson flew up the leaderboard. He dropped in a birdie putt on the first, then moved to minus-four with a birdie on the par-four fourth.

He made his move late in the round. After a birdie on the seventh that gave him a share of the lead, Erlandsson drained an 12-footer for birdie at eight to take the lead alone.

Erlandsson got to seven-under as he birdied the ninth, his third straight birdie.

"Oh, that was brilliant. I was really happy how I went through those 18 holes," Erlandsson stated. "The rough is horrendous. If you hit the fairways, there are a couple opportunities with wedges."

Garrido ran off three straight birdies to open his round. He parred the next five holes before a birdie on the ninth helped him turn in minus-four.

The Spaniard carded four straight pars from the 10th. He birdied 14 and 16 to get within one of the lead. After dropping a shot on the par-three 17th, Garrido birdied the last to end one back.

"To start the Spanish Open with a 66 in these conditions is great," Garrido stated. "After the majors, this is probably my main goal (to win this title)."

Garcia birdied the 10th to start his round. After making eagle on the par-five 13th, he birdied No. 14 to get to four-under. He went bogey-birdie-bogey- birdie over the next four holes.

On the front nine, Garcia birdied two and five to get within one of the lead. He parred his last four holes to share second.

"I am very happy, I played my best golf," said Garcia. "This is my first year on the Challenge Tour. I got the call to play here and I just wanted to gain some experience."

Soren Hansen carded a four-under-par 68 Thursday and was joined in a share of fifth place by Peter Whiteford, Steven O'Hara, Henrik Nystrom, Carlos Rodiles and Peter Lawrie.

Alfredo Garcia-Heredia had the lead for a while on Thursday, but he bogeyed four of his last five holes to end tied for 11th at minus-three.